Stock-feeding rack



(No Model.)

H. e. CHAMBERLAIN. STOCK FEEDING RAGK.

No. 478,402. Patented July 5, 1892.

IN VE N TOR Mm $5M ww fl m /q mw ATTORNEYS n4: Norms virus co.,PHOID'LIYHQ, msnmcrcm, n, :4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC HENRY G. CHAMBERLAIN, (ZlF RIDGEIVAY,WISCONSIN.

STOCK-FEEDING RACK.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 478,402, dated July 5,1892.

Application filed June 23, 1891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, HENRY G. CHAMBER- .LAIN, of Ridgeway, in the countyof Iowa and new and improved stock-feeding rack designed for use infarm-yards, stables, pastures, &c., which is simple and durable inconstruction, adapted to supply various kinds of feed, such as grass,fodder, grain, roots, hay, 850., and which is arranged .to convenientlypermit vthe'stock to feed, at the same time preventing any waste of thematerial fed.

The lnvention consists of certain parts and details and combinations ofthe same, as will be described hereinafter, and then pointed out in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawlngs, forming a partof'this specification, 1n which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Flgure l is a transverse section of the improvement. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section of the same; and Fig. 3 is an end view, with partsin section, of a modified form of the improvement.

The improved stock-feeding rack is provided with two or moretransversely-extending foundation-beams A, on which rest thelongitudinally-extending beams B, spiked or otherwise secured to thetransverse beams A. On top of the longitudinal beams B is arranged aseries of transversely-extending bottom rails O, supporting thelongitudinally-ex tending bottom boards D and D, forming the bottom forthe feed-troughs, and carrying at their outer edges and ends inclinedsides E and E, forming the fronts of two troughs, one at each side ofthe rack. The inner ends of the bottom boards D and D are covered by alongitudinally-extending center-board F, which divides the feed equallybetween the two troughs formed on the sides of the rack.

From the longitudinal boards D D" extend upward and outward sets ofposts G, fastened in any suitable manner on the said boards or passingthrough the same onto the longitudinal beams B to be fastened thereon inany convenient way. On the insides of the posts Gare semi No. 897,178.(No model.)

secured the longitudinally-extending sides H, forming the sides for therack proper, the distance between the lower edges of the said boards andthe longitudinal board F forming the opening for the feed to pass to thetwo troughs and the sides of the rack. Thelup- 'per ends of the severalsets of posts G are connected with each other by a transverse bar I, soas to hold the several parts together.

In order to regulate the amount of feed permitted to pass through theopening leading to the two troughs, sliding feed-gates J are provided,fitted to slide in suitable bearings arranged on the boards H andadapted to increase or diminish the opening between the edges of theboards H and F, so that more or less feed passes to the said troughs.

Each of the feed-gates J is formed at its upper edge with a bevel J forthe passage of the feed, the said gate being also provided with a seriesof upwardly-extending arms J mounted to slide in suitable bearings, H,arranged on the inner sides of the boards H. The upper end of each arm J2 is provided in one edge with notches or teeth J adapted to be engagedby a spring-pawl K, secured to the respective board H and serving tohold the feed-gate J in the desired place to regulate the amount of feedpassing to the troughs. The ends of the boards H are connected with eachother by transverse slats L, as is plainly shown in Fig. 2.

The roof N of the rack is arranged in such a manner that it can beconveniently opened for placing the feed in the rack and can also beextended, so as to form shelter for the stock feeding at the sidetroughs of the rack. For these purposes the roof N is provided aboveeach cross-bar I with the triangular sections 0 and 0', each forming apeak, on which rests the roofs P and P proper, formed in the shape ofdoors and hinged at l? to the lower or outer endsof the peaked sections0 and O.

In order to place the material to be fed into the rack, the roof properP is swung into a vertical position, as illustrated in dotted lines atthe right of Fig. 1, while the other roof P is swung into an openinclined position, also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and held in theposition by means of a cord or rope R, fastened by one end to one of thetransverse ICO bars I and by its other end to the inside of theroof-door P. The cord or rope R is of such length as to convenientlyhold the roofdoor P open in the manner shown and clescribed. Thematerial is pitched into the rack from that side having the door swunginto a vertical position, theother door preventing the material frombeing thrown over the opposite side.

On the under sides of the sections 0 and 0, close to the hinges P arearranged the extension-roofs S and S, respectively hinged to the outerends of the said sections 0 and O by hinges S. \Vhen the extensions S Sare in position, they extend in line with the doors P P, resting on topof the sections 0 and O. The extensions S S are held in place by meansof braces T T, respectively hinged to the posts G and engaging withtheir free ends lugs S and S respectively fastened to the under side ofthe extensions S and S. In order to lock the braces in position, alooking device U of any approved construction is provided, said deviceconsisting, preferably, of a hook pivoted on the respective boards andengaging a pin on the eorrespondinglug.

\Vhen the material is to be placed in the rack through the open roof, aspreviously described, the extension S is placed in a vertical position,as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the brace T being unlocked and swungdownward to rest on the upper edge of the side E of the troughs. Theextension S then swings of its own accord into a vertical position, andwhen the roof-door P is swung into a lowermost position for opening thispart of the roof then the two parts S and P are close together, as shownin dotted lines in said Fig. 1.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 the device is adapted for use instables or along a wall V. Only one trough is then needed and the roofis preferably omitted. The foundation, instead of being formed of beamsA, is formed of stone or brick work A, as illustrated in said figure.Otherwise the construction remains substantially the same.

It is understood that when the extensions S and S are in position toform continuations of the roof then the stock feeding at the saidtroughs is completely sheltered from sun, rain, snow, dsc.

Byhaving the adjustable gates J any desired material may be placed inthe rack to be fed to the stock through the said troughs, the said gatespermitting but a certain quantity. to be passed out into the saidtroughs. Thus hay and grass fodder, as well as roots and grain, can bedispensed to the stock, the gates J being properly adjusted, accordingto the nature of the material to be fed. It will be seen that no wasteof material is liable to occur, as the animals have to draw the feedfrom the opening controlled by the respective gate J. The materialextending through the respective side trough has to be pulled out of thesame before it can possibly drop onto the ground.

By having the solid sides H hay-seed or mals, as previously described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A stock-feeding rack comprising side troughs, posts projecting upwardand outward from the said troughs, side boards held on the said posts,gates permitted to slide on the lower ends of the said side boards toincrease or diminish the opening between the said side boards andprovided with toothed arms, springpawls engaging the said toothed arms,a root held on the said posts, the said roof comprising peaked sectionssupported on cross-bars attached to the said posts, roof-doors hinged tothe lower or outer ends of the said sections to swing down into avertical position, and extension-root doors hinged to the peakedsections and supported on braces hinged to the said posts, substantiallyas shown and described.

2. A stock feeding rack comprising side troughs, posts projecting upwardand outward from the said troughs, side boards held on the said posts,gates permitted to slide on the lower ends of the said side boards toincrease or diminish the opening between the said side boards, and adividing-board between the troughs, a roof held on the said posts, thesaid roof comprising peaked sections supported on cross-bars attached tothe said posts, roof-doors hinged to the lower or outer ends of the saidsections, and a cord or rope having one end attached to one of the saidroof-doors and the other end to one of the cross-bars to limit theoutward swinging motion of the said roof portion, substantially as shownand described.

HENRY G. CHAMBERLAIN. Witnesses:

W. J EVANS, PEARCE ROBERTS.

